Filmmaker John Sayles has written and directed a movie centered on the blues of the Deep South. Titled Honeydripper, the film features several musicians, including Keb' Mo', Stax Records veteran Dr. Mable John, Howlin' Wolf/Muddy Waters band alumnus Eddie Shaw, and—most notably—up-and-coming Austin-based guitarist Gary Clark Jr. Alongside the likes of Danny Glover and Mary Steenburgen, Clark stars as a young guitar prodigy named "Sonny," occupying a role he fits in real life as well. In a press release Sayles says he wanted to explore the genesis of rock and roll. "There was no single moment when R&B, blues, gospel, jazz, and country all came together to create this thing called rock and roll," he said, "but a big change came with the advent of the electric guitar. Before that, piano ruled. Suddenly a poor boy like Sonny (Gary Clark Jr.) could travel around with a portable, cheap, high-volume electric guitar and peel the paint off the walls." The film opens in theaters on December 28. Meanwhile the Honeydripper All-Star Band, consisting of musicians featured in the movie (including Clark) has been appearing at blues festivals since early summer. To watch a video of the band in performance, click here. —Russell Hall